Bears in Prince William: Safety Tips

Bears are emerging from their winter dens hungry and on the move in search of food. This primal need can cause them to conflict with homeowners and residents using parks and other unimproved areas. There have already been sightings in western Prince William County.

The Department’s Animal Control Bureau, in an effort to avoid problems, offers the following tips and suggestions for dealing with hungry bears:

Remove food sources that might attract hungry bears. This includes bird feeders, garbage, pet food, outdoor grills, livestock food, compost, fruit trees and beehives. Virginia’s bears are primarily active and very hungry from late March through May, so temporarily removing these items, or scrupulously cleaning them if you cannot remove them, should help.

Do not store trash – or anything that smells like food – in vehicles, on porches, or decks. Keep your full or empty trash containers secured in a garage, shed or basement. If you do not have a trash collection service, take your garbage to the Landfill frequently (twice a week or more). If you do have a trash collection service, put your garbage out the morning of the pickup rather than the night before.

Bears generally avoid humans but, in their search for food, they may wander into suburban areas. What should you do if you see a bear? Keep a respectful distance. If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Bring your pets inside and leave the immediate area.

If you see a bear cub in the area, do NOT try to remove it from the area or “rescue it.” Female bears – who may give birth while hibernating in the winter den – will wander to find food, usually with her cubs in tow. If she feels nervous, she will typically send her cubs up a tree and leave the area.

Always remember that a bear is a wild animal, and that it is detrimental to the bear – as well as illegal in Virginia – to feed a bear under ANY circumstances. Even the inadvertent feeding of nuisance bears is illegal.

If you experience a bear problem after taking appropriate preventative steps, please notify the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries regional office. Visit the website at www.dgif.virginia.gov for more information.

Things move quickly in New Woodbridge! Get updates from the Office of Supervisor Frank Principi for the latest in...

Community News

Events & Activities

Opportunities to Make a Difference

Just enter your email below to stay in the know!

By submitting this form, you are granting: Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22191, permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy (http://constantcontact.com/legal/privacy-statement) for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Email *

First Name *

Last Name

Zip Code

Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from New Woodbridge: Official Site of Supervisor Frank Principi. (You can unsubscribe anytime)

Constant Contact Use.

By submitting this form, you are granting: Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22191, permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy (http://constantcontact.com/legal/privacy-statement) for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.